Homeless vets to seek help at ‘Stand Down’ event at Whittier Narrows Recreational Area

Henry Washington, Jr., left, searches for a pair of shoes during the San Gabriel Valley Stand Down where veterans receive services and assistance at the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in South El Monte on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011. A veterans stand down is meant to raise awareness and rally assistance for homeless veterans in the area. File photo. (Keith Durflinger / Staff Photographer)

SOUTH EL MONTE >> Beginning Friday, Whittier Narrows Recreational Area will host veterans who find themselves on the street as they take part in the San Gabriel Valley “Heroes in the Shadows” Homeless Veterans Stand Down.

The military resource village will continue through Sunday as about 1,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families will find support services and amenities, including medical care, mental health and substance abuse counseling, aid in receiving federal and state benefits, and employment and housing assistance.

“The words ‘homeless’ and ‘veteran’ should never be said together,” said Joe Leal, Vet Hunters Project founder, which hosted the event in conjunction with the San Gabriel Valley Veterans Employment Committee.

In the San Gabriel Valley, there are an estimated 4,400 homeless individuals, officials said, and 12 percent identified as veterans.

Walk-up registration opens at 8 a.m. Friday and will continue until noon on Sunday.

On-site dental, medical, vision, legal and counseling services will be available as well as accommodations for sleeping, showering, laundering, food, entertainment, and personal grooming and wellness, according to officials.

“The beauty of this event is that there is a ripple effect,” said Leal, referring to those who have been helped during the previous stand downs.

“Like the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ it takes a nation to support a veteran,” he added. “These vets are of the sons and daughters of America.”

The event is manned by individual volunteers and organizations.

“We are grateful for the volunteers because they make this possible,” said Leal, an Iraq combat veteran.

Army reserve and Vet Hunters will set up the camp Thursday and veterans from the Los Angeles area, San Gabriel Valley and Pomona will arrive via free transportation Friday, and stay through Sunday.

A bus will pick up homeless veterans at 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday at Pioneer Park, 3575 Santa Anita Ave. in El Monte.

A bus will also pick up veterans at 7:30 a.m. Friday at Pomona Armory, Building 500, 600 S. Park Ave., Pomona.

The stand down is fully funded by donations, Leal said.

“No one gets paid, we’re all volunteers,” he added.

Two vehicles, one courtesy of Leal and the other courtesy of Vet Hunter Marine Sgt. Jose Gonzalez, will be donated to veterans.

“We’re fortunate to have more than one car, so we wanted to share them with other vets,” Leal said. “Hopefully the cars will help them.”